Direct answer
What this means
AI-native software development is an engineering operating model in which AI systems assist throughout discovery, architecture, implementation, testing, review, migration, and documentation. It is different from merely adding an AI feature to a product. Engineers remain responsible for requirements, architecture, verification, security, and the production outcome.
AI-native is a delivery model
The model changes how engineering work is decomposed, parallelized, inspected, and verified. It can be used to build conventional software, AI-enabled products, firmware, or modernization programs.
What must remain human-owned
Product intent, architectural tradeoffs, risk acceptance, security decisions, evidence review, and release authority require accountable engineering judgment.
How to evaluate an AI-native partner
Ask how generated work is verified, how requirements remain traceable, how sensitive information is handled, who owns architectural decisions, and whether the delivered system can be maintained without the vendor.